““Othello”Othello”

An IntroductionAn Introduction

““Othello” – A Shakespearean Othello” – A Shakespearean TragedyTragedy

““Othello” is a Shakespearean TragedyOthello” is a Shakespearean Tragedy It encompasses elements of tragedies such It encompasses elements of tragedies such

as:as: It ends with the death of numerous characters It ends with the death of numerous characters

including the title characterincluding the title character It encompasses historical and military detailsIt encompasses historical and military details The protagonist is admirable, but flawed, with the The protagonist is admirable, but flawed, with the

audience able to understand and sympathise with audience able to understand and sympathise with the character.the character.

The protagonist is capable of both good and evilThe protagonist is capable of both good and evil Free will is insisted upon – the protagonist must Free will is insisted upon – the protagonist must

always be able to back out of a situation or to always be able to back out of a situation or to redeem themselves – but always towards their redeem themselves – but always towards their inevitable doom.inevitable doom.

The world’s greatest…The world’s greatest… By the time he’d written “Othello” (around 1604) By the time he’d written “Othello” (around 1604)

Shakespeare was considered the greatest playwright Shakespeare was considered the greatest playwright of his day.of his day.

Many feel that Shakespeare's later plays show a Many feel that Shakespeare's later plays show a darker, more pessimistic view of the world than his darker, more pessimistic view of the world than his early plays. early plays.

Under James I (his rule is referred to as the Jacobean Under James I (his rule is referred to as the Jacobean period), England lost some of its power and period), England lost some of its power and prosperity. Too, conflicts between Catholics and prosperity. Too, conflicts between Catholics and Protestants led to civil strife. Shakespeare's earlier Protestants led to civil strife. Shakespeare's earlier plays reflected Elizabeth's golden reign. By 1604, plays reflected Elizabeth's golden reign. By 1604, when when OthelloOthello was first produced, the headiness of the was first produced, the headiness of the Elizabethan period was recent history. Elizabethan period was recent history.

This is reflected in the fact that, unlike his other This is reflected in the fact that, unlike his other tragedies, there is no resolution to the conflict caused tragedies, there is no resolution to the conflict caused at the end of the play.at the end of the play.

The PlotThe Plot

The plot for The plot for OthelloOthello was developed from a was developed from a story in story in Cinthio's 's collection, the collection, the Hecatommithi, which it , which it follows closely. The follows closely. The only named character only named character in Cinthio's story is in Cinthio's story is "Disdemona", which "Disdemona", which means "unfortunate" means "unfortunate" in Greek; the other in Greek; the other characters are characters are identified only as "the identified only as "the standard-bearer", "the standard-bearer", "the captain", and "the captain", and "the Moor". Moor".

The first known The first known performance of the performance of the play occurred on play occurred on November 1November 1stst 1604 at 1604 at Whitehall Palace in Whitehall Palace in London.London.

Othello – a moorOthello – a moor

Othello is described in Othello is described in the play as a moor, the play as a moor, and a general in the and a general in the Venetian Army.Venetian Army.

The origin of the word The origin of the word “moor” comes from “moor” comes from the word “mauri” the word “mauri” which was used to which was used to describe a group of describe a group of people called the people called the Berbers, who came Berbers, who came from North Africa.from North Africa.

What does it mean to be What does it mean to be Moorish?Moorish?

Moors were Moors were characterised in characterised in Elizabethan England as Elizabethan England as being alternately or being alternately or simultaneously noble or simultaneously noble or monstrous, civil or monstrous, civil or savage.savage.

It was often the case (in It was often the case (in literature) that a moor literature) that a moor was presented as was presented as someone accepted by someone accepted by society to a certain society to a certain point, but then rejected point, but then rejected due to other factors.due to other factors.

IagoIago Iago is one of Iago is one of

Shakespeare’s most Shakespeare’s most sinister villains, often sinister villains, often considered so because of considered so because of the unique trust Othello the unique trust Othello puts in him, which he puts in him, which he betrays while maintaining betrays while maintaining his reputation of honesty his reputation of honesty and dedication.and dedication.

Shakespeare contrasts Shakespeare contrasts Iago with Othello’s nobility Iago with Othello’s nobility and integrity.and integrity.

Iago is a Iago is a malcontentmalcontent – he – he has a bitter and cyncial has a bitter and cyncial view of the world around view of the world around him.him.

The name Iago is a The name Iago is a shortened version of the shortened version of the Spanish name “Santiago” Spanish name “Santiago” or “St James”. or “St James”.

Saint James of Spain was Saint James of Spain was also known as “St James also known as “St James the Moor Killer” which the Moor Killer” which seems appropriate within seems appropriate within the play.the play.

Winning a fair lady…Winning a fair lady… Men were expected to go Men were expected to go

through distinct stages of through distinct stages of courtly love in order to woo courtly love in order to woo a woman.a woman.

It was thought that love It was thought that love wasn’t entirely platonic, wasn’t entirely platonic, but that it was based on but that it was based on sexual attraction.sexual attraction.

As the As the etiquette of courtly of courtly love became more love became more complicated, the knight complicated, the knight might wear the colours of might wear the colours of his lady: blue or black were his lady: blue or black were the colors of faithfulness; the colors of faithfulness; green was a sign of green was a sign of unfaithfulness. unfaithfulness.

The stages of courtly love:The stages of courtly love: Attraction to the lady, usually Attraction to the lady, usually

via eyes/glance via eyes/glance Worship of the lady from afar Worship of the lady from afar Declaration of passionate Declaration of passionate

devotion devotion Virtuous rejection by the lady Virtuous rejection by the lady Renewed wooing with oaths of Renewed wooing with oaths of

virtue and eternal fealty virtue and eternal fealty Moans of approaching death Moans of approaching death

from unsatisfied desire (and from unsatisfied desire (and other physical manifestations of other physical manifestations of lovesickness) lovesickness)

Heroic deeds of valor which win Heroic deeds of valor which win the lady's heart the lady's heart

Consummation of the secret Consummation of the secret love love

Endless adventures and Endless adventures and subterfuges avoiding detection subterfuges avoiding detection

The Wife’s StatusThe Wife’s Status

A typical wife receiving her A typical wife receiving her instructioninstruction

The husband, in the The husband, in the accepted role as head of the accepted role as head of the household, gives moral household, gives moral direction to his wife and direction to his wife and children--who sit obediently children--who sit obediently listening. listening.

““Ye women, submit your Ye women, submit your selves unto your own selves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the wife's For the husband is the wife's head, even as Christ is the head, even as Christ is the head of the Church, and he head of the Church, and he is the saviour of the whole is the saviour of the whole body. Therefore as the body. Therefore as the Church in congregation is Church in congregation is subject unto Christ: so subject unto Christ: so likewise let the wives be in likewise let the wives be in subjection unto their own subjection unto their own husbands in all things” husbands in all things” (“The Book of Common (“The Book of Common Prayer”)Prayer”)

Evil Women!Evil Women!The men in “Othello” The men in “Othello” have differing views of have differing views of women – from Othello women – from Othello who idolizes his wife who idolizes his wife (Desdemona) to Iago (Desdemona) to Iago who sees love as who sees love as "merely a lust of the "merely a lust of the blood and a blood and a permission of the permission of the will“.will“.The attitudes of the The attitudes of the audience at the time audience at the time are likely to have been are likely to have been varied too.varied too.

In the Elizabethan In the Elizabethan times there was a long times there was a long and well established and well established tradition in the Church tradition in the Church of what we would now of what we would now call misogyny – women call misogyny – women were distrusted simply were distrusted simply because they were because they were women. At the time it women. At the time it was assumed that was assumed that women would cheat – women would cheat – it was part of their it was part of their nature!nature!

The CuckoldThe Cuckold

Any man whose wife Any man whose wife cheated on him (without cheated on him (without his knowledge) was his knowledge) was known as a cuckold.known as a cuckold.The word derives from The word derives from “cuckoo” – the bird “cuckoo” – the bird known for laying their known for laying their eggs in another’s nest.eggs in another’s nest.

It was highly undesirable It was highly undesirable to be considered a to be considered a cuckold.cuckold.

All of the community All of the community would find out about it would find out about it and it was considered a and it was considered a public humiliation.public humiliation.

Cuckolds were often Cuckolds were often described as having described as having horns – a hangover horns – a hangover from the days when a from the days when a cuckold was forced to cuckold was forced to parade around his town parade around his town wearing antlers as a wearing antlers as a sign of his wife’s sign of his wife’s infidelity.infidelity.

JealousyJealousy

Jealousy was viewed as something irrational Jealousy was viewed as something irrational and linked to the deadly sin of envy.and linked to the deadly sin of envy.

It was viewed as a sudden infection against It was viewed as a sudden infection against which there was no prevention or cure.which there was no prevention or cure.

It was thought of as eroding trust and it It was thought of as eroding trust and it dissolved the bonds holding together dissolved the bonds holding together marriages, families and social frameworks.marriages, families and social frameworks.

Being jealous could let in evil and chaos and Being jealous could let in evil and chaos and it was a state greatly feared by it was a state greatly feared by Shakespeare’s audiences.Shakespeare’s audiences.

TaskTask

On the following slide are some lines On the following slide are some lines spoken by, or about, various spoken by, or about, various characters in the play – consider characters in the play – consider what you think each quotation what you think each quotation reveals about the person reveals about the person speaking/being spoken about and speaking/being spoken about and what they are like as a character.what they are like as a character.

1)1) Iago - describing Othello: “loving his own pride and Iago - describing Othello: “loving his own pride and purposes”purposes”

2)2) Iago - speaking about his relationship with Othello: Iago - speaking about his relationship with Othello: “I follow him to serve my turn upon him”“I follow him to serve my turn upon him”

3)3) Iago - speaking about himself: “I am not what I Iago - speaking about himself: “I am not what I am”.am”.

4)4) Iago - speaking about Othello: “The state cannot Iago - speaking about Othello: “The state cannot with safety cast him; for he’s embarked with such with safety cast him; for he’s embarked with such loud reason to the Cyprus wars”loud reason to the Cyprus wars”

5)5) Othello - speaking about himself: “My parts, my Othello - speaking about himself: “My parts, my title and my perfect soul shall manifest me rightly”title and my perfect soul shall manifest me rightly”

6)6) Othello - about Iago: “A man he is of honesty and Othello - about Iago: “A man he is of honesty and trust”.trust”.

7)7) Othello – to an angry Brabantio: “Hold your hands, Othello – to an angry Brabantio: “Hold your hands, were it my cue to fight , I should have known it”.were it my cue to fight , I should have known it”.

Jealousy and DeceptionJealousy and Deception

Do you consider Do you consider yourself to be a yourself to be a jealous person? Why?jealous person? Why?

Have you ever Have you ever deceived anyone? deceived anyone? Why?Why?

Is jealously acceptable Is jealously acceptable in a relationship?in a relationship?

Is it ever okay to Is it ever okay to knowingly deceive knowingly deceive someone?someone?

Quotations on Jealousy – Do you Quotations on Jealousy – Do you agree?agree?

““Love sees sharply, hatred sees even more sharp, but Jealousy sees the sharpest for it is love and hate at the same time

” ”

      “      “Jealousy is nothing more than a fear of abandonment” ”

““ In jealousy there is more of self-love than love.” ”

““A competent and self-confident person is incapable of jealousy in anything. Jealousy is invariably a symptom of neurotic insecurity.

” ”

““Jealousy is a disease, love is a healthy condition. The immature Jealousy is a disease, love is a healthy condition. The immature mind often mistakes one for the other, or assumes that the mind often mistakes one for the other, or assumes that the greater the love, the greater the jealousy -- in fact, they're greater the love, the greater the jealousy -- in fact, they're

almost incompatible; one emotion hardly leaves room for the almost incompatible; one emotion hardly leaves room for the other. Both at once can produce unbearable turmoil...” other. Both at once can produce unbearable turmoil...”

Quotations on Deception – Do Quotations on Deception – Do you agree?you agree?

““We are never deceived; we deceive We are never deceived; we deceive ourselves.” ourselves.”

““Deception is a cruel act... It often has many Deception is a cruel act... It often has many players on different stages that corrode players on different stages that corrode

the soul.” the soul.”

““IIt's better to get something worthwhile t's better to get something worthwhile done using done using deceptiondeception than to fail to get than to fail to get something worthwhile done using truth.”something worthwhile done using truth.”

““Truth lives on in the midst of Truth lives on in the midst of deceptiondeception” ”

Today’s society - TASKToday’s society - TASK

Think about the Think about the cultural rules that you cultural rules that you live by.live by.

Look at the questions Look at the questions opposite and opposite and discuss/make notes.discuss/make notes.

What rules dictate the What rules dictate the behaviour of young men behaviour of young men and women in and women in relationships today?relationships today?

What are the things What are the things “nice girls” just don’t “nice girls” just don’t do?do?

What are the things What are the things “nice boys” just don’t “nice boys” just don’t do?do?

What do you think the What do you think the consequences are of consequences are of breaking these rules?breaking these rules?